AT&T

AT&T is a global telecommunications and networking company that operates in 60 countries and 850 cities worldwide. The company is divided into AT&T Business Services and AT&T Consumer Services. In 2005, SBC Communications Inc. (formerly the Southwestern Bell Corporation) bought AT&T Corp., creating the largest telecommunications company in the U.S, and started using the AT&T brand name. In 2010, AT&T had an annual revenue of $124.3 billion, up from $122.5 billion in 2009.

In 2006, AT&T purchased BellSouth for $86 billion in the largest telecommunications takeover in U.S. history. AT&T now services more than 68 million phone lines. Cingular Wireless changed into AT&T Mobility which is under AT&T and is the country's largest wireless carrier.

Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council
AT&T is a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and is on ALEC's corporate "Private Enterprise" Board. Bill Leahy, Vice President of State and Legislative Affairs for AT&T, represents the corporation on ALEC's corporate board as of 2011.

Jim Epperson, Jr., the Senior Vice President of AT&T, is the former chairman of the "Private Enterprise Board.

Randall L. Stephenson, President and CEO of AT&T, spoke to ALEC on August 5, 2010; see the video here.

Political contributions
Open Secrets reports that in 2010, AT&T gave $3.7 million to federal candidate and pro-corporate PACs. $1,612,582 was given to Democrats and $2,035,949 to Republicans.

On June 30, 2011, the Center for Responsive Politics wrote, "Contributions to lawmakers and federal lobbying expenditures by telecommunications interests have spiked as a result of government intervention in the market. Facing potentially stifling federal regulations that threaten to short-circuit their profits, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile have each dumped millions of dollars into campaign contributions and federal lobbying expenditures, hoping that a barrage of political influence will subdue any unwanted restrictions."

Past Elections
Edward E. Whitacre Jr., then Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SBC (AT&T), was a Bush Ranger having raised at least $200,000 for Bush in the 2004 presidential election.

AT&T gave $2,341,683 to federal candidates in the 2006 election cycle through its three political action committees - 34% to Democrats, 66% to Republicans.

Lobbying
In 2010, AT&T spent $15,395,078 on lobbying expenses. You can see a full list of AT&T's lobbying firms and lobbyists HERE.

You can view a list of the federal bills AT&T lobbied for in 2010 HERE.

The company spent $23,070,720 for lobbying in 2006. $3,960,000 went to 25 outside lobbying firms with the remainder being spent using in-house lobbyists.

Leadership
Randall L. Stephenson Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President Ralph de la Vega President and CEO-AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets Ronald E. Spears Senior Executive Vice President, Executive Operations John T. Stankey President and CEO, AT&T Business Solutions Rayford Wilkins, Jr Chief Executive Officer — AT&T Diversified Businesses Alex Mandl Former President

Personnel
Selected executives:
 * Randall L. Stephenson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
 * James W. Callaway, Senior Executive Vice President-Executive Operations
 * Richard G. Lindner, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Selected members of the board:
 * Randall L. Stephenson - Chair
 * Gilbert F. Amelio - Lead Director
 * William F. Aldinger III
 * Reuben V. Anderson
 * James H. Blanchard
 * August A. Busch III, Former Chairman of the Board of Anheuser-Busch
 * James P. Kelly, Former Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of United Parcel Service
 * Jon C. Madonna
 * Lynn M. Martin
 * John B. McCoy, Lead Director
 * Mary S. Metz
 * Joyce M. Roche
 * Laura D'Andrea Tyson
 * Patricia P. Upton

Annual Revenue
2010 Total Revenue: $124.3 billion Gross Profit: $61 billion Net Income: $19.9 billion

2009 Total Revenue: $122.5 billion Gross Profit: $60.6 billion Net Income: $12.1 billion

2008 Total Revenue: $123.4 billion Gross Profit: $54.7 billion Net Income: $-2.6 billion

2007 Total Revenue: $118.9 billion Gross Profit: $60.6 billion Net Income: $11.9 billion

Contact information
175 E. Houston San Antonio, TX 78205 Phone: 210-821-4105 Fax: 210-351-2071 Web: http://www.att.com

Related SourceWatch articles

 * TV4US

External articles

 * Muriel Kane, "Blackwater PR firm aided Chalabi; Works to polish AT&T's image," The Raw Story, October 23, 2007.